And george a



3 fleets-Sheet 1'.

Patented Jan. 3,1882.-

GRATE FOR FURNACES.

(No Model) G. E. PALMER, A. WORTHINGTON 8126'. A. ROWELL.

WIN S E5 1 WORTHINGTQN8E G. A. ROWELL'.

GRATE FOR FURNACES.

Patented Jan. 3,1882.

(No Model.) G, E. PALMER, A

I F i WI/[Wm I /l/l/l/M m I \MITN EEES; INVENTU E 1 %3; fimi g g-g 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 (N0 Mode-l.)

G. E. PALMER, A. WORTHINGTON & Gr. A. HOWELL.

GRATE FOR FURNACES.

Patented J an. 3, 1882 WTNEEEEE; 6a., f

was TATE PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. PALMER AND AMASA WORTHINGTON, OE GIHCA'GO, ILLINOIS, AND GEORGE A. ROWELL, O BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSlGNORS O THE BABCOUK & WILOOX OMP'ANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

G'RATE FORRFURNACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettersi Patent No. 251,792, dated January 3, 1882.

Application filed August13, 188i. (No model.)

To all whom it may. concern Be it known that we, GEORGE E. PALMER, of Chicago, in the'county ot'Oook and State of Illinois, AMASA WoRtrHING'roN,also of Chi 5 cago aforesaithand GEORGE A. HOWELL, of Brooklyn, Kings county, in the State ofNew York, have invepted certain new and useful Improvements relating to Grates for Furnaces; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

We employ an inclined grate divided horizontally in sections, with provisions for moving alternate sections, as required,to promote a traverse of the fuel from the upperto the r lower portion of the grate, as required. The fuel is supplied through a hopper extending across the whole upper SidGYOf the grate. It becomes heated by its contiguity to the furmace, and so soon as it touches and begins to receive air through the grate its gas ignites and burns; but the supply of air at this stage of its progress is too little for complete combustion. The gaseous product, if anthracite, coke, charcoal, or other tolerabl y pure carbon is employed, is not carbonic acid-the product of complete combustion-but carbonic oxide--' a product of only partial combustion.

We propose to use .in this furnace mainly those varieties of coal which, when heated, 0 give ofi' large volumes of volatile combustible matter-sin other words, to use the bituminous or blazing coal. In the treatment on the upper portion of the inclined grate only partial combustion is attained; but a large propor- 5 tion of the volatile material is given otfand' rises mingled with carbonic oxide, both gases capable of further and intense combustion un der proper conditions. If these gases are allowed in this condition to strike the cooler 40 surfaces of the boiler, they part with their heat and escape unconsumed into the atmosphere, producing visibleand offensive .smoke. We defend the cool surfaces of the boiler against the contact of the gases in this condition. 5 The furnace has what we term a deep hanging bridge, of fire-brick oranalogous material capable of enduringa high temperature, which divides its upper portion into two compartments or chambers. In the first chamber the combustible gases are liberated and mixed with air, and thewhole at ahigh temperature brought to such condition that, on its passage under the hanging bridge and receiving'addiI-.

tional air, complete combustion with the productionof intense heat ensues. The air sup-' plied to this volume of combustible in. the second chamber of the furnace is itself at a high temperature. What takes place thereis really the combination ofahot mixture in which there is an excess of the combustible gas with a hot mixture in which there is an excess of air.

We have demonstrated by experimeutthat the construction and mode ofoperation shown result in a complete combustion of all that is combustible in the fuel with little labor or.

skill. An occasional shaking cf the movable portion of the grate and the supplying of a liberahquantity of coal in the hopper at the upper edge of the grate, with preferably some additional air through an'additional device described farther on, result in a rapid combustion of the fuel and the utilization of the full modicum of heatwhich the fuel is capable of producing. A marked gain results from the invention. We present what we believe to be the correct theory; but We do not rest the claim on the correctness of the theory.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and represent What we con sider'the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through the entire furnace and boiler. Fig. 2'

is a central longitudinal section through the main portion of the furnace, on a larger scale.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the same, partly in section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

The boiler is ofthe style known as Babcock & Wilcox.

We employ an inclined grate having hori zontalgrate-bars assembled in two systems, each systemhaving horizontal bars arranged in groups, which alternate with the bars of the other series-that is to say, there are five stationary bars, I, at the top of the incline, then moved, except in repairing or exchanging. An

other system, J, is in similar divided sets, having a corresponding number of horizontal bars connected togetheron a sufficient framing, J, with freedom to be moved considerably forward and back.

K K are levers or movable arms extending upward from sleeves K and engaging with J.

These levers are free to rock or oscillate on sufficient fixed shafts or round bars k. The lowermost sleeve K has a socket which receives a hand-lever, L. By moving the lever L up and down, either constantly or at intervals, the entire series of levers K K is rocked and the alternate sections of grate J are moved forward and backward between the fixed sections I.

W W is a crank-shaft rotated slowly by a belt or gearing from the engine. (Not represented.)

X is a loop of small chain leading from the crankv W and taking hold of the hand-lever L. When this chain is thus engaged it will automatically rock the grate. The point of connection of the chain X with the lever L may be shifted inward and outward, and thereby the extent of the motion varied. WVhen it is shifted outward to its farthest extent the movement is only sufficient to take up the lost moconstantly or at intervals. .The back face of the hopper is an inclined hollow casing, O, of castiron or other suitable material, through which atmospheric air is distributed into the furnace through apertures'o. The air is admitted to the case 0, at one or both sides of the furnace, through an adjustable register, N.

P. is a horizontal grate extending from the inclined grate I J to the bridge-wall or back masonry, F, which bounds the fire-space. This grate]? is mounted sufficiently below the firegrate, as indicated, to allow of slicing between. A considerable part of the front side of the grate P is covered by a dead-plate, P. Ordinary provisions (not shown) allow this grate P to be shaken or dropped when necessary.

The pipe G forms the lower edge of a hanging bridge, which is composed of fire-brick or other suitable refractory material, R, and

extends up to the lowermost of the inclined tubes B. The spaces between these lowermost tubes 3 from the topv of this bridge R forward are closed by fire-bricks or other suitable non-conducting material, R, forming a nearly horizontal tight platform. This platform or flooring R, which we term the lower platform, and the nearly vertical bridge R, with the stout water tube G at the base of the latter, perform the important function of separating the front portion of the fire-chamber from the rear portion thereof and from the space between the tubes above. They compel the gases rising from the upper and main portion of the inclined grate I J to descend and pass close to the surface of the more advanced and thoroughly-coked fuel on the lower portion of the inclined grate I J .and on the horizontal grate P. Care must be taken to rock the lever L sufficiently to move the fuel down, but not so much as to move it too fast and cause it to accumulate too thickly at the bottom. A sufficient space must be left for the gases generated in the front chamber, 00, to pass under the pipe G, and consequently under the entire hanging bridge G B into the rear chamber, 3 At this point they meet and mingle with a current of hot gases, composed largely .of'at-mospheric air, which has passed up through thecoke and cinder resting on the horizontal grate P inthe base of the furnace.

The combustible elements in the solid portions are completely burned by receiving a large excess of fresh air on the grate P. The hot gas rising from the fuel on-P has much free oxygen. The two oppositegrades of gas mingle and complete the combustion of the volatile elements in the chamber y in rear of the pipe G. The combustion is unusually intense. The flame is bright and short. the volatile elements of the fuel are utilized by disengaging them in the front chamber, w, and

high temperature, mingled with not nearly air enough for the combustion, and then presenting them in the chamber y to a current of highly heated but relatively fresh air at a high tweenthe-tubes B, and are by thecross-pan' tition T and a nearly horizontal connected platform, T, compelledto traverse forward.

They move upward past the front edge of what we term the upper'platform, T, then rearward, bathing the barrels A, then downward between the cross -partition T and another cross-partition, U, imparting more of their heat to the tubes B, and, after moving rearward in the space under the latter, they rise and again traversethrough the zigzag spaces betweenthe tubes B and are discharged into a stack. (Not represented.)

It will now be seen that all sending them downward and rearward ata The provisions for utilizing the, heatdevel oped are closely analogous to those in the ordi-; naryBabeock8tWilcoxboiler, Ourinvention pertains mainly to themeans for insuringa uniform and complete combustion of the fuel and generating the heat. Oompletecombustion is effected in a furnacerequiring only moder- P without realizing such a heat there as to melt the iron or do any other mischief. L is a portable weight, provided with a hook or other convenient means ofattach men t, which may be removed wheneverit is desired to shake the lever L, and consequently the frame J and bars J, by hand. The chain X being removed, either by slipping its loop off the end of the hand-lever L or by disconnecting a hook or other simple attachment from the lever L or from the crank W, or from both, the lever L .may be vibrated up and down as vigorously as the exigency requires. Under more favorable conditions, the chain X being connected to the crank W at the top and to such point in the hand-lever L as shall be found to give such sufficient reciprocation to the lever, a

moderatemotion may be maintained constantly. The lever L may be notched on the under side to hold the chain against shifting its position, and also, if desired, on the upper side to hold the weightL in position.

Modifications may be made in the forms and proportions within widelimits. Wecan adjust the angle of the fresh-aircasing O by the employment of chipping-pieces at the surfaces of contact, which can be chipped otf, filed, or. otherwise changed, as experiencewith a given kind of fuel shall dictate. We can work with some success without the casing 0. We can introduce a greater or less number of bars in each of the horizontal sections I and J. .We can, if desired, have every alternate bartstationary and every intermediate bar movable,

. but we prefer; the arrangement shown with alternate sets or groups of five or about that number movable and a correspondin g or nearly corresponding number stationary.

Bituminous fuels vary greatly, not only in their chemicaleonstituents, but in their mechanical conditions, in burning. Those which Q remain as hard lumps may be worked differently from others whichbecome pasty when exposed to heat, and both are materially different from some grades which flake off or change to. fine scales or powder before they are fully burned. Large lumps of fuel may require a removable cover onthe hopper M, to prevent air from entering the furnace through the large interstices.

The throw of the crank W may be varied by shifting. the: crank-pin in a radial slot'or otherwise, was to vary the extent of motion of the chain X.

In place ofthe chain X, we .can substitute a rigid link with a hook or other ordinary means fire-brick oranalogous material adapted to assume and maintain a high temperature, so that; the gases will be first mixed with air in limited proportions and distilled into combustiblegas and burned into carbonic oxide at so high temperature that all the matter will be thoroughly combined; and then that the gases thus produced will, after passing under the hanging bridge, be exposed to and mingled with the hot gases rising from the lower portion of the furnace containing an excess of air under such conditions that all the particles will be also there combined, producing carbonic acid. We incase the water tube G in suitably-formed fire-bricks to prevent it from direct exposure to the hot gases, and thus avoid the refrigerating effect which it would otherwise produce.

The furnace having the properly -formed chambers 00 y thus bounded by surfaces which very different from any, however closely approaching it in form, in which the surfaces are naked portions of a boiler filled withwater, and consequently maintained at a relatively low temperature. It is important that the chambers be so proportioned as to allow a proper space, with no great surplus of space, for the two operationsth at is to say, the prodnction" of hot combustible gas in the first IIO chamber, as, and the burning it completely, un-

der the conditions prescribed, in the second chamber, 3 The proportions may require to be varied with different kinds of fuel and different conditions with regard to draft. Our

experiments indicate the proportions shown are about right for using soft coal from the Illinois bed burned with natural draft.

Parts of the apparatus may be used without the whole; but we prefer to employ the whole, combined and arranged about as shown. Where a number of the furnaces are employed side by side, one shaft, W, may extend across the front of the whole, with a crank, W, in-

troduced at the front of each furnace.

NVe do not here claim the peculiarities of the furnace with regard to the treatment of the gases rising from the coal. Suchare made the subject of a separate application for patent by one of us, George E. Palmer, and belong to him alone. We claim as our 1I1V6Ill1101l-=- 1. An inclined gra e having transverse bars lying nearly or quite flatwise, a portion being mounted stationary and another set mounted in the spaces between, being movable hori zontally, as herein specified. v

2. The bottom grate, P, with its front deadplate, P, in combination with a separate inclined grate, with means for moving a. portion of the latter forward and backward, as herein specified.

3. The flexible connection X, leading from a constantly-moving part, W, in combination with the hand -lever L, and with an inclined grate connected thereto, arranged to serve at will to shake the grate by power, and also to allow the grate to be shaken by hand, substantially as herein specified.

4. The combination of an inclined grate, I J,

with provisions for shaking a part, a feedinghopper, M, for supplying fuel thereto, ahori- 2o zontal grate, P, for burning the residue, and a hangin g bridge, R, arranged to induce a mixture and complete combustion of the gases, as herein specified.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set 2 5 our hands this 1st day of August, 1881, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. E. PALMER. AMASA \VORTHINGTON. GEORGE-A. ROVVELL.

Witnesses:

S. R. BULLOCK, H. W. CALDWELL. Witnesses to the signature of George AL Rowell:

WM. 0. DEY, A. H. GENTNER. 

